News

Are women suffering in silence? New BMS survey puts spotlight on significant impact of menopause

Findings presented at our annual conference today show only half of women surveyed in Great Britain (who are currently experiencing or who have experienced menopausal symptoms within the past ten years) consult a healthcare professional for any of their menopause symptoms.

The new survey conducted by Ipsos MORI on behalf of the BMS has revealed that one in two women in Great Britain (aged 45-65 who are currently experiencing or who have experienced menopausal symptoms within the past ten years) go through the menopause without consulting a healthcare professional. This is despite women surveyed reporting on average seven different symptoms and 42% saying their symptoms were worse or much worse than expected.

Today, more than 200 leading women’s health experts will gather from around the world at the BMS’s annual conference to discuss recent advances in menopause research, and the impact of the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline on addressing the often overlooked needs of women experiencing the menopause.

It was hoped that the recently published NICE guideline on the diagnosis and management of the menopause would encourage more women to seek help and access to safe and effective treatments. Worryingly however, only 3% of those surveyed had heard of the guideline.